Insubmergible ship.



J. S. NEUMANN.

INSUBMERGIBLE SHIP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 9, 1915.

1 170,095 Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

J. S. NEUMANN.

INSUBMERGIBLE SHIP.

APPLICATION FILED APR.9, 1915.

1,170,095. Patented Feb.1,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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JAKOB S. NEUMANN, OF GREAT FALLS, MONTANA.

INSUBMERGIBLE SHIP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

Application filed April 9, 1915. Serial No. 20,239.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it know that I, JAKoB S. NEUMANN, citizen of the United States, residing at Great Falls, in the county of Cascade and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Insubmergible Ships, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to devices designe primarily to prevent submersion of ships or vessels at sea.

20 tainers, by reason of their inherent buoyancy,

will sustain or float the ship or vessel for an indefinite period of time.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel support for the exteriorly located air containers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a pneumatic lock device of a peculiar construction permitting of its perative association with the support means for the containers in a manner to be hereinafter fully disclosed.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in their preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claims which are appended hereto and form a part of this application.

In describing my invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:-

Figure 1 illustrates the application of the invention; Fig. 2 is a view in cross section, parts being shown in elevation, of the vessel and its insubmergible equipment; Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating a. different phase of the invention; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view, the support means for the containers being shown; Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section, partly broken away, of one of the interiorly located containers; Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly in section, and partly in elevation, of the pneumatically operated lock; and Fig. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the supporting cable and its associate means.

Referring now to the drawings by numera1s,1 designates as an entirety a ship or vessel equipped with my improved in'submergible device, the latter comprising, in its preferred embodiment, a plurality of collapsible inflatable or ,distendible air and water tight accordion-like containers each designated as an entirety by the numeral 2. tainers 2 are located both interiorly and exteriorly of the ship, being preferably arranged in a horizontal plane within and without the ships hull at a point above the normal water line thereof. For clearness of description, the exterior containers will be hereinafter designated 3 while the interior containers will be designated 42. Each container 4 is located in an individual compartment 5 built interiorly of the ship, preferably as shown to advantage in Fig. 2. Normally, the container 4 is collapsed or folded to rest upon the floor or base of the compartment, the accordion-like sides being extensible or distendible upon inflation of the container with air admitted thereto under compression.

The exterior containers 3 also normally lie in a collapsed condition against the outside of the ships hull preferably in a horizontal plane approximately that of the interior containers 4. Each eXteriorly located container 3 includes a base like structure 6, accordionlike sides 7 and head or end plate 8, the former, base structure 6 being open to an air forcepump 9, suitable piping 10 afiording communicative means. The pipes constitutingthe system generally designated 10, are open to the several containers and, upon operation of the pump, force air thereinto, thereby inflating or distending the containers, and, by reason of the mentioned air and water tight construction, affording ballast devices of a buoyant nature and of sufficient resisting force to maintain or sustain the en tire vessel against submersion should the latter, for unforeseen reasons, collide with another vessel or otherwise become disabled while at sea.

To prevent excessive inflation of the exterior containers 3, each container is equipped with a combined support and stop rod 11, the rod having connection at its outer end with a bearing plate 12 and at its opposite end penetrating the sides of the vessel These conas indicated at 13, the inclosed terminal of the rod being laterally extended or enlarged as at 14 to engage the side of the vessel and in this manner limit movement of the rod and consequently preclude excessive inflation Sald lnclosed 1161111111211 of the container 3. of the rod 11, when the container is collapsed, operates in an opening 15 therefor formed in an interior or auxiliary hull 16 of thevessel. Said rod 11 is normally held or locked in a position to prevent distention end of the latch with said rod, the latter being notched as indicated at 18 to receive the latch. Said latch 16 being located interiorly of the inner hull structure 16 it is evident that rod 11 cannot be forced into the position shown in Fig. 4 without first previously disengaging the latch member 16. Air pipe system 10 is open to a cylinder 19, which, with its associate mechanism, constitutes the operating means for the latch. Cylinder 19 contains a piston 20, the latter having connection with the latch 16', a piston rod 21 affording the connecting means. By the admission'of air to the cylinder 19 it is evident that piston 20 will be forced toward the opposite end of the cylinder from that which receives the air supply, suchmovement of the piston operating the latch member 16 to disengage it and the rod 11 containing the notch.

Passing on to a detail description of the support means for the exteriorly located container 3, 22, designates a supporting chain or cable located exteriorly of the ship and positioned to extend from a point adjacent the bow to a point adjacent the stern of the vessel, the several containers being hung or suspended therefrom. The opposite terminals of the cable 22 each engage a suitable drum 23, the respective drums being mounted for turning movement as indicated whereby the cable may be drawn taut and so held by suitable pawl and ratchet means (not shown) associated with each drum.

Should occasion demand, the several containers may be simultaneously inflated or distended through operation of the pump mechanism 9, the said pump mechanism being open to the several containers as before described. The compressed air, during operation of the pump, will first operate to release the several support rods 11 for the exterior containers 3, in which event, the said exterior containers will distend or enlarge until the stop enlargement 14 engages the inner wall of the vessels hull. Containers 4 will also expand or distend until compartments 5 are completely filled,

at which time, the inherent buoyancy of the combined ballast or container members will sustain the entire vessel upon the surface of the water and prevent submersion for an indefinite or extended period of time.

Chain or cable 22 also affords a means whereby the several containers 3 may be removed from the'sides of the vessel, if desired. Said chain 22 is provided with a plurality of laterally projecting pins 24,each of which during a winding of the chain, is adapted to engage supporting rings 25 carried by the containers to move said rings longitudinally of the ship and out of engagement wvith supporting hooks 26 therefor. The hooks 26 project from the sides of the ship, and with the chain, support the several containers."

In reduction to practice, I have foundthat the form of my invention, illustrated in the drawings and referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most eflicient and practical; yet realizing that the conditions concurrent With the adoption of my device will necessarily vary, I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement'of parts may be resorted to,when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as'new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is 1 1. In an insubmergible ship, an exteriorly located inflatable container, a stop rod affording a supportfor the container when inflated, and means engaging the rod prior to inflation of the container to lock it against movement and the container against exten- SlOIl.

2. In an insubmergible ship, a plurality of exteriorly located inflatable containers, a taut cable affording a support for the several containers, a rod mounted to penetrate the sides of the ship and to engage the containers to afford asupport therefor when inflated, and means on the rod to limit the dis- I tentionof the container. i 7

3. Inan insubmergible ship, a plurality of inflatable air containers, a support for the several containers, an auxiliary support for each container :when inflated, the last mentioned'si'ipports being arranged to penetrate the sides of the ship, a stop means on the inclosed end of each auxiliary support to limit the distention of the containers, means normally engaging the inclosed end of each support to lock it against movement, and means to simultaneously release the lock means and inflate the containers.

. 4. In an insubmergible ship, an exteriorly located inflatable container, a stop' rod affording a support for the container-when inflated, means engaging the rod prior to.

of exteriorly located inflatable containers, a"

means affording a support for the several containers, a rod support for the several containers when extended, means on the rod 10 to limit distention of the containers, means engaging the rods to lock the containers against distention, and pneumatic means to release the rods.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

J AKOB S. NEUMANN.

WVitnesses A. H. GRAY, E. BEOKMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

